River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-12
TALE or 4 TELEGRAM.


the sunlight brought out the burnishe,
black of hi, close-cut hair, and threw in
to stronger relief his bronzed, handsom,
face. to which slight scar on ont
one cheek, save a touch Of the romanti,
AMI picturesque. So thought Maud
after her brief, comprehensive survey.
Il beg your pardon, = said the
strange. tanning himselfwith his straw
hat a he spoke, '.but can You tell me il
Mr. Estabrook i here2"
20, thought Maud. zone Of Tom
friends Then. aloud. ..Yes-that
l.. he lives, here. but he isn't at home
today"
A. the newcomer stood irresolute
Maud gave him another quick look.
which summed up his whole appear
auce. from his xix feet Of stature and
The light pedestrian garb that set it of
to the knapsack hanging over his broad
shoulders Then she said. hesitatingly;
..Hc may be back to night. perhaps.
Won't you come 10 the house and rest?
Il l. % warm. And my mother viii be
clad to see any friend Of Toms"
The you man returned her inquir-
ing glance as he answered, also with
some hesitation: Thanks. It Is very
warm. certainly I should be delighted
% pay my respect, to Mrs. Estabrook,
il She VIII permit me.
With that he put on his hat again,
AMI the two walked along together
under the bio~sOming acstcia trees,
while be introduced himself rs Marston
FolIiott, just now pede-trianizing in
thlt region To which She responded
a-h the information that She was
Toms sister
i'm this way they reached the house,
where Mrs Estabrook was discovered
ID the cool north parlor. She received
her sons friend very hos. itably, in
yItiug hmm 10 await Toms return.
which was expected by the next morn
inc at least
Mr.. Foiliott'~ manner was again
he~itating, as he half glanced toward
Maud Il really ought not to take adj
,autage- h. began
But Mrs Estabrook. a nervous, eX-
citabIc woman. given to starts and
broken sentences. interrupted him: mo.
mo-, PRAY don't say 50. Really 1t
would relieve NV mind, now that my
son Is away; and Of course Peter must
choose this very time Maud. Peter
h3~u' come back vet2 No. not a man
~ ;he place. and this Is such solitary
n,ighborho0d, Burglars and tramps
would have Us quite at their mercy
- the young man accepted the
urgent Invitation, and the afternoon
wore away pleasantly. with music and
conversation. and -trollin9 about the
grounds
Ii WA, almost tea-time The two
ladies with their guest were sitting on
she breezy piazza when telegraph
messenger came up the steps. delivered
his yeiIpw-cavered mi>siye. and was off
a-aiu like shot out Of sight
.Fr1m Tom. probably" said Mr..
EStabrook. mir. FnlliOtt, you will eN-
..t~e me-
She broke open the envelope. while
tLr conversation between the two
yours people went on. But IT was
Suddenly interrupted 10y au inarticulate
sound from Mrs Es;abrouk. and. look
iu- around. they saw her white and
trembling Maud ran To her mother
aud put her arm about her.
i hope won have received no bad
news. hc.au Mr.. Eulli0tt. But rs he
advanced Mrs Eastbrook waved him
back with poor attempt al a smile
80. 10. not bad nj all-uuly a little
la little unexpected. Then she con
viewed Silent summons 20 Maud anNi-
on eve. adding. with the same forced
ligltu~-: III YOU Will excuse our
leaving Nou alone for a moment. Mr..
Fulliott / have a little household mat
ter To arrange with my daughter. That
s. aU. indeed Il j. only foE a moment
-Oull moment. I assure You.
A~th..y Withdrew She ~c,lulouSly re-
turned Air Eolliutt's bow. ali the while
preserving sex smile STRANGELY a vari-
aucc with her pale face. But no soon
err Iad they entered the house than II
drpured rw... rs she turned to her
daughter aud said. in a hollow phi~pcr:
MAUD. that man j. burglar.
Maud stared at this startling an
uouuccmess.
--Nhdt man. mammal
That man there that Folli0tt. as
ne calls himself. He isn't Il friend of
Toms Just re.td thi~-from Amelia.
Maud took the telegram. which was
from Ter married sister, living some
hf, miles distant This was what It
contained.
.Ilayr Just learned from nursemaid
Of suspicious Stranger making her ac-
,uliutsusc. Asked all about the vii
Bows and number Of inmates. Seemed
tp kua,y something Of Tom. Tall. dark
.yutlcmaulv-lookiu ami has scar on
sis lrts check. Look ont for him.
HAS Il scar ON one check. echoed
Maud. family. after au iu-tant'~ blank
silence.
..Oh. Maud. what shall we do?'
molued Mrs. E~tahrOok. sinking into ;
chair. AuJ Ne have actually invited
linn totea-a burglar, Well for frien,
/ Thought he seemed very uncertain
about Tom
IL noticed that. too. answered Maud
with hcut brow. recalling a certain un
readincS- Of tone and manner which
hgd struck her A. strange At the time
Mamma. She continued. 1--WE mus
send Bridget 81 Maggie over to the viii
age for help
No. almost screamed Mrs ESta
brook. mot another person must leave
the house, q. how could Peter choOS
Tia, very day Tom was gone When h
knows how nervous | am. too.-and &
think I told thlt-the desperate on
thrrr. thar there wasn't man ahou
fireplace, Maud. Maud. what shall W
do,
IL thiuk { have "A plan, Mamma
~a:d Maud. rsiSiug her from her brow
-udv. Wait moment. She iie'
upstairs aud down again. Now com
out on the piazza lie mustn't su,
poet anything
The two ladies reiOiued tNeir NJ
welcome guest. and Mrs. E~ta5roO
rushed into fevcri>h conversation wit
~.